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Inventing Herself: Claiming a Feminist Intellectual Heritage
A thought-provoking analysis of the roles of feminist intellectuals from the eighteenth century to the present day examines the contributions of such key figures as Mary Wollstonecraft, Margaret Fuller, Germaine Greer, Susan Sontag, Margaret Mead, and others as she explores common themes and patterns of women's lives. 25,000 first printing.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published March 20, 2001
About the author
Elaine Showalter
78 books148 followersElaine Showalter is an American literary critic, feminist, and writer on cultural and social issues. She is one of the founders of feminist literary criticism in United States academia, developing the concept and practice of gynocritics.
She is well known and respected in both academic and popular cultural fields. She has written and edited numerous books and articles focussed on a variety of subjects, from feminist literary criticism to fashion, sometimes sparking widespread controversy, especially with her work on illnesses. Showalter has been a television critic for People magazine and a commentator on BBC radio and television.
(source: Wikipedia)
She is well known and respected in both academic and popular cultural fields. She has written and edited numerous books and articles focussed on a variety of subjects, from feminist literary criticism to fashion, sometimes sparking widespread controversy, especially with her work on illnesses. Showalter has been a television critic for People magazine and a commentator on BBC radio and television.
(source: Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 22, 2016
This was brilliant.
As feminists, as women we should remember our roots. We should remember the past and the women who fought battles, that we are not forced to. I am saddened that I knew only a few names of the women represented in this book - why hadn't I heard of them? I can tell you a bunch of useless history facts about mediocre white men who did nothing of note, fed to me in history class, but what I know of these women was from the media or something I had to seek out on my own. I'd have rather heard about these women than below-average 18th century misogynists.
"But those women who succeeded in an epic life of resonant action should not be consigned to the anonymity and obscurity that is the common destiny of womanhood. The lives of the unknown are redeemed and transfigured by the spirits and the shrines of the great. We need to pay them tribute." - Elaine Showalter, page 337
As feminists, as women we should remember our roots. We should remember the past and the women who fought battles, that we are not forced to. I am saddened that I knew only a few names of the women represented in this book - why hadn't I heard of them? I can tell you a bunch of useless history facts about mediocre white men who did nothing of note, fed to me in history class, but what I know of these women was from the media or something I had to seek out on my own. I'd have rather heard about these women than below-average 18th century misogynists.
"But those women who succeeded in an epic life of resonant action should not be consigned to the anonymity and obscurity that is the common destiny of womanhood. The lives of the unknown are redeemed and transfigured by the spirits and the shrines of the great. We need to pay them tribute." - Elaine Showalter, page 337
July 12, 2008
think of it more as an overview and jumping off point for further reading than as a definitive text. the chapters on more recent history leave a lot to be desired, focusing more on showalter's personal experiences than anything else. and how long has it been since i've heard the name "jane gallop"!! how i have missed you, women's studies.
November 29, 2015
A readable primer and an easily digestible look at pioneering woman throughout history, but *so* disappointingly white -- not a very honest or accurate feminist intellectual heritage.
January 23, 2019
Why did no one tell me about Elaine Showalter? The knowledge and research in this book is amazing and it deals with know and unknown women of history. I want to read much more about certain women in this book... such a great read.
February 18, 2023
Un testo utile per scoprire la storia del femminismo fatta da teoriche e dive.
October 14, 2011
I am fairly far from what one would call a "feminist". I love watching pageants, am happily married and cook and clean for my family and have old fashioned views about many things. But this book was intriguing and more about the history of feminism than trying to convert anyone. Showalter's definition of feminism turned out to be more independence of mind, body and spirit for a woman, however that is defined to the woman. I am taking some liberations with her message but the meaning was clear to me.
This was a 4-5 star book for much of the reading. The history of women like Mary Wollstonecraft, Margaret Fuller, Charolette Perkins Gilman and Susan Sontag were a joy to read. They seem to struggle in finding their niches and in their relationships (why do they all have to travel to deal with unrequited love?)but were strong and were headed for women's equality. Showalter wrote about them with fondness and a touch of humor which endeared her to me. It was apparent that she did a lot of research evidenced by the 25 pages of citations. This is all well but I wanted more of Showalter's insight, what she thought. That was until I came to the more modern part of the "history". Showalter attempted to write a bit of an autobiography but didn't have enough about herself to make it interesting. Her disdain for Paglia was clear through her writing even if it was true. The last three to four chapters really brought the book down for me and after the strong beginning, I expected more. This brought the rating down to a 3 star book for me.
Overall, a good history of feminism that isn't preachy. I am glad I picked this one up.
P.S. I totally missed the reference to the "Scream" movie(s) but did get the "Hot Shots: Part Deux" one. Just saying.
This was a 4-5 star book for much of the reading. The history of women like Mary Wollstonecraft, Margaret Fuller, Charolette Perkins Gilman and Susan Sontag were a joy to read. They seem to struggle in finding their niches and in their relationships (why do they all have to travel to deal with unrequited love?)but were strong and were headed for women's equality. Showalter wrote about them with fondness and a touch of humor which endeared her to me. It was apparent that she did a lot of research evidenced by the 25 pages of citations. This is all well but I wanted more of Showalter's insight, what she thought. That was until I came to the more modern part of the "history". Showalter attempted to write a bit of an autobiography but didn't have enough about herself to make it interesting. Her disdain for Paglia was clear through her writing even if it was true. The last three to four chapters really brought the book down for me and after the strong beginning, I expected more. This brought the rating down to a 3 star book for me.
Overall, a good history of feminism that isn't preachy. I am glad I picked this one up.
P.S. I totally missed the reference to the "Scream" movie(s) but did get the "Hot Shots: Part Deux" one. Just saying.
May 5, 2008
The book does a good job at contextualising past feminist authors and their work. It provides a look into their personal lives, the corrolations and disconnects between the views they held and the ones they lived by. I wish it wasn't Europe & US centrict in scope, or at least that the title was reflective of this limited breadth when claiming to be about claiming a feminist intellectual heritage.
The first 3/4 of the book is much better than the last 1/4. Once we get into contemporary times, the author interjects a bit too much to let us know how she knows so-and-so personally and their personal rapport. It becomes quite obnoxious to read what starts to feel like an homage to herself. But stil definitely worth the read.
The first 3/4 of the book is much better than the last 1/4. Once we get into contemporary times, the author interjects a bit too much to let us know how she knows so-and-so personally and their personal rapport. It becomes quite obnoxious to read what starts to feel like an homage to herself. But stil definitely worth the read.
November 20, 2016
This is a re-read of this book and I can't remember when I did read it before. I sometimes feel like reading any of Showalter's books is a bit like going to a party and being introduced to a whole lot of people you have never met before. The next day I am off learning all I can about those that fascinated me the night before. I now have a long list of investigations to make.
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May 21, 2018Good stuff on Mary Wollstonecraft, Olive Schreiner; interesting on Simone de B; don't know why she even gave book space to Camille Paglia, although it helped to re-affirm why I never could stand to hear/see/acknowledge Paglia…A bit wobbly on Princess Di - sorry, but I just don't see her as any kind of feminist icon, not by any stretch of the imagination! I like Showalter and a couple of her books are absolute must-haves, for me, but this one left me feeling a bit so-whatish...It read as though she'd rushed it through - it doesn't have the intellectual bite of her previous work… [Feb 2003]
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews